Fermoir
Unknown Artist
last half of 5th century
Medium
Iron, coated with gold foil, glass
Dimensions
Overall: 5 1/2 x 7/8 x 3/16 in. (14 x 2.3 x 0.5 cm)
Classification
Metalwork-Iron
Culture
Frankish
Department
Medieval Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of J. Pierpont Morgan, 1917
Accession Number
17.192.43
Art Historical Context
Step into the world of early medieval craftsmanship with *Fermoir*, a delicate clasp from the Frankish culture of the late 5th century. Crafted the turbulent era following the fall of the Western Roman Empire, this small metalwork piece (measuring just 5½ x ⅞ x 3/16 inches) reflects the rising artistry of the Franks, a Germanic people who were forging a new kingdom in Gaul under leaders like Clovis I. Likely used to secure a cloak, belt, or even a book cover—common for such "fermoirs"—it embodies the blend of utility and prestige in daily life. The object's iron core, coated with shimmering g...